Month: January 2016

It’s not the same environment for job seekers that it was even a few years ago. Increasingly, those looking for work must be aware of an expanding list of dos and don’ts about everything from what not to tweet during their search to how to use social media and the latest tech tools to reach recruiters and hiring managers more effectively.

With so many more details to understand now when you’re in job-search mode, it’s important to know which tips to prioritize. Here is a list of the latest strategies that job seekers should not ignore if they hope to score a new career opportunity in 2016.

2. If you want flexibility, ask for it. Workplace flexibility is the name of the game in 2016, with the technology industry leading the trend toward offering employees wider options in how they structure their workday and where they get their work done. As much as one-quarter of the workforce already teleworks at varying levels of frequency, according to a report from GlobalWorkPlaceAnalytics.com. In response, major companies worldwide are restructuring office space around the fact that employees are so much more mobile than they were in the past, with multiple studies showing that people are away from their desks more than 50 percent of the time. The tech industry continues to lead the charge in upping the ante when it comes to creating workplaces that are more balanced, flexible and family-friendly. So if you’re among the up to 90 percent of employees who are interested in having some type of flexible work arrangement, even if only part-time, this is a great year to negotiate for it.

3. Continue to craft your social media presence carefully. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn show no signs of fading as vital components of a job search in 2016. While you may have grown comfortable with the use of social media in your everyday life to keep up with events and share news with your personal and professional connections, it’s crucial to remember that recruiters and hiring managers frequently check candidates’ social media profiles to inform their decisions. If your tweets are negative, inane or inappropriate, you may miss out on opportunities to even land an interview, much less compete for the job. If you fail to take control of your digital identity to create a polished and professional image, you may find yourself regretting it this year and beyond.

Erin KennedyWhile it’s no longer a common practice to put “references available upon request” on your resume, you do actually still need to have three to five professional job references ready to speak on your behalf if you’re in an active job search.Finding people to say good things about you may sound like an easy task; however, choosing people that can speak to your skills and work ethic on a professional level is something that needs to be taken seriously. And once you find these individuals, it’s also your responsibility to prepare them to speak to potential employers.

Follow these tips to align yourself with the best job references:

Don’t ask family members to be professional references. Just because you share the same gene pool doesn’t mean they know how you operate in the workplace.

Choose a past supervisor, current colleague, or another professional in your industry.

Know somebody in the company you’re targeting? If you know them on a professional level, and they have a good standing in the company, see if they would act as a reference or at least give you a recommendation.

2. Prepare job references just as carefully.

There’s nothing more awkward for a hiring manager than to call a reference and be met with, “Oh, John? I didn’t even know he was applying for jobs again.” Bad move.

When you’re job searching, you’ll inevitably receive an onslaught of advice. Some of it might be good (e.g., you should tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for), but the rest of it? Well, let’s just say that some advice might not be in your best interest.

3. Having multiple passions or jobs.

It makes sense to think that if you’re applying for a job as, say, an accountant, you would want your resume to reflect all of the work experiences you’ve had that relate to accounting. But let’s say you worked as an English teacher for a while, too. Does that mean you have to skip over that part of your collective career? This is just one of those job search taboos that you’ll want to reconsider, since showing a wide range of interests can be intriguing to a potential boss, and is not considered a negative any longer.

5. Being honest about your work habits.

Sure, you’ve worked in offices for most of your career. But truth be told, you much prefer to work alone. So when you’re asked during a job interview if you’re a team player who likes to work in an office surrounded by your colleagues, you’re not really sure how to answer. If you admit that you are more of a loner, you’ll surely lose the job, right? Not necessarily. Being honest and upfront from the get-go shows an employer that you know yourself, know what type of work style works best for you, and know why your personality might make you a prime candidate for a remote job.

There are so many job search taboos that might be worth taking a second look at. After all, no employer expects you to have the perfect work history, sans employment gaps, have only work history that relates to the job you’re applying for, and be without any sort of weakness. Show who you really are, and you’ll have a much better chance of getting the job you want!

As cold as it is outside right now, tech has never been hotter. Not a day goes by without an article about some sizzling new startup or the latest sexy perk that Google’s offering.

Too bad you’re stuck freezing on the outside, your breath fogging up the glass as you look in at that roaring tech fire. After all, what tech company is going to hire a non-programmer like you?

Turns out they all will. Because non-tech roles make up nearly 75% of all the jobs in the industry. After all, who’s going to support all those programmers by marketing and selling their programs?

US Internet workers by function; Source: LinkedIn

But first you need to figure out where you fit. And don’t worry, it’s not all just sales and marketing roles either. So here’s a cheat sheet to 5 scorching, unconventional jobs in the hottest industry around:

4) You’re naturally empathic

Ever bought a piece of technology but watched it sit around and gather dust? Or get forced to adopt new software at work but had no idea how to use it?

If so, you might have the makings of a great Customer Success leader. So many SaaS companies rely upon recurring subscriptions these days (everyone from Adobe to Slack) that high churn rates (customers canceling, usually due to low adoption) can be a real killer. Which is why Customer Success is the hottest non-technical role in tech. Much more than just a customer service position, you work hand-in-hand with clients to understand their needs, get their users to actually use your product, and keep them renewing month after month.

Sample role: Facebook at Work – Customer Success Manager

Advise early-adopting companies on how best to leverage Facebook’s new corporate At Work tool.

5) You know where talent’s hiding

OK, so there are a bunch of hot jobs in tech. But they’re not going to fill themselves.

That’s where you, the Tech Recruiter, come in. Because the war for talent is raging across all fronts right now as firms fight for the best execs, programmers, and business people. And so if you’re quick with a welcoming smile and even quicker with a LinkedIn search, you can help any number of tech companies stay just one step ahead of the competition.

Sample role: BlaBlaCar – Global Recruiter

Keep BlaBlaCar rolling with fresh talent all around the world.

There you have it: Five different paths all leading to a hot tech job. So no need to remain stuck on the outside, looking in. Come out of the cold this new year and join the tech inferno!

Minutes 20 Through 30: Figure Out Where Your Jobs Are

While reaching out to your network may yield some viable opportunities, you’re also going to want to be actively looking for openings.

So, now’s the time to make a list of all those places you’ll be checking out. While your personal list will be dependent on your field, here are a few places almost everyone can look on a regular basis:

If you’re unsure of where your field typically posts openings, ask your network as you start to reach out. (In fact, that’s a great question to ask if you’re struggling to think of any.) Often times, positions are shared there long before they make their way to places like LinkedIn. In addition, you can make your life even easier by setting job alerts now so that more listings will come directly to your inbox.

And that brings us to the end of the half-hour. As you can see, you can make some serious progress in a relatively short amount of time. While there is still plenty more to do (like the actual emailing, applying, and resume revising), push yourself—I promise it’ll be worth it.